Excited State vs.

Ground StateSTATION 1

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GROUND STATE

• This is a stable state

• This is where the electron normally wants to be

COPY THE BOX TO YOUR NOTES

LOOKING AT THIS, WHAT DO YOU THINK EXCITED STATE IS?

e-e- Ground state

Excited state

Electrons can only be atspecific energy levels,NOT between levels.

EXCITED STATE

• This is a unstable state

• This is where the electron is farther from the nucleus than normally

COPY THE BOX TO YOUR NOTES

An Excited Lithium Atom

Zumdahl, Zumdahl, DeCoste, World of Chemistry 2002, page 326

Photon ofred lightemitted

Li atom inlower energy state

Excited Li atom

Ene

rgy

When an electron fallsFrom an excited stateBack to ground state, isEnergy released or Absorbed?

An Excited Lithium Atom

Zumdahl, Zumdahl, DeCoste, World of Chemistry 2002, page 326

Photon ofred lightemitted

Li atom inlower energy state

Excited Li atom

Ene

rgy

Excitation of Hydrogen Atoms

Zumdahl, Zumdahl, DeCoste, World of Chemistry 2002, page 328

Return to Ground State

OCTET RULE?

• Atom wants to have 8 valance electrons!

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT IS?

• Atom is most stable when valance electrons = 8

HOW DOES THE OCTET RULE APPLY TO GROUND VS EXCITED STATE?

When lower levels are not filled (aka less than 8 electrons in a shell) before the valance shell (last shell) the atom is EXCITED!

CAN AN ATOM HAVE EMPTY SHELLIN LOWER LEVELS BEFORE IT STARTSTO FILL HIGHER LEVELS?

WHICH ONE IS GROUND AND WHICH IS EXCITED?